The month of January is special for me, not just because it is the beginning of the year, but it is the beginning of my life. Yes, I am born in January and this year’s birthday celebration seems to stretch longer than any other year. It looks like it’s going to extend until February!

Since it is a celebration, I am glad that me and my hubby was able to do this buffet dinner date together. 

 

Just the two of us, in a sense. It’s really rare for us to have a dinner date for two, usually we’re together with our two boys.

As I celebrate my month-long birthday festivity, Marcelino Cafe at Manila Prince Hotel also celebrates with their guests presenting a special rate of Php899.00 each guests. Giving more reasons for food enthusiasts to celebrate their life occasions. Its original rate is around Php1,500.00, so it’s a good deal for everyone.

The menu in Marcelino Cafe changes daily, ensuring a delightful variety of both local and international cuisines for its guests, like me and my hubby, to savor.

Personally, the Lechon Belly and Roasted Chicken stole the show for me; the mouthwatering flavor of the lechon is truly unforgettable. 

I also found joy in the Garlic Bread, which paired perfectly with my pasta. The Filipino station offered a generous taste that wowed me with its superb beef steak and pork mechado.

The Pika Pika station was a delightful experience, especially with the tempting tempura, chicken balls, squid balls, and the ever-popular kwek-kwek. And let's not forget the French fries – a classic favorite!

To cap off the feast, Marcelino Cafe excels in its pastries. As a self-proclaimed pastry enthusiast, I indulge in their cookies that are just right in its sweetness. It’s a sweet tooth's dream. The variety of cookies they offer is simply fantastic.

 After a sumptuous dinner, which gives an ample time to digest the food, it is best to engage in heartfelt conversations with our loved ones. While doing that, desserts like chocolate bark, cathedral gelatin, and mango sago is truly enjoyable. They’re not overly sweet, it's the perfect ending to a delightful evening.

If you're in search of the ideal spot to celebrate Valentine's or simply enjoy a memorable meal with your loved ones, look no further as Marcelino Cafe is just a walk away from Rizal Park. Take advantage of its special rate of Php 899.00 and immerse yourself in a diverse culinary experience. Whether it's lunch or dinner, Marcelino Cafe at Manila Prince Hotel welcomes you for an unforgettable celebration.

At Marcelino Cafe every bite is a celebration!

 

Mommies, do you believe learning can be easy and light if gamified?

Well, gamification is the new term in the corporate world when you want learning to be interesting, fun, and engaging. But for moms like us, this is already a recurring thing because moms have used it many times, especially the moment children start learning. That's how we, moms, engage with the kids.

It starts from learning the alphabet and numbers until learning mathematics and science. It's is simple if you're on the right track with your children. It's easy peasy, as they say.

So, what do games and learning have to do in the culinary and kitchen? Well, I found out that my kids have a knack for good taste in food, but they don't have the drive to learn how to cook. They would always promise to help, but it always ends with me cooking. That's why I remembered the fun times with them when they were still starting to learn. 

Perhaps it's time again to let them enjoy learning, to start, probably a little game about kitchen and culinary. And since the easiest to cook is egg, we will play about eggs. In the meantime, it is best to have the game online or virtual rather than have the actual cooking. It's simple because all you need to do is focus on the flame and timer of the eggs to have soft and hard-boiled it.

What's interesting about "The Boiled Eggs" is that you learn to be mindful of your surroundings. The game may seem easy playing the game by tapping the burner, but it's hard when you're playing it.

I remembered watching a cooking show where the potential chefs were tested by cooking the eggs. And I think the hardest one to cook was the poached egg.

So, if my kids have mastered the poached egg in a game and real life, then I think I'll find ways to enroll them in a culinary school. If ever, this is the first time that our family will have a chef. Imagine having a son that will cook for your family when there's an occasion.

For now, harnessing their potential would be my top priority. So I'll let the kids play the games in CulinarySchools.Org to make them more aware about cooking and some of the things they need to know about culinary.

So, if you're a mom and you think your kids have potential, whatever it is, you'd better support them and let them know that you're always there for them. At least at a very early age, they'll have confidence in themselves to try anything and learn everything.

As I mentioned in the beginning, learning can be easy and light when you're having fun. The only way to have fun is through playtime. So, keep in mind that learning is not a chore that compels you to learn. Always enjoy the things that you do.

So, mommies always find time to spend with the kids, have fun and enjoy every moment with them.

The foremost culinary competition for aspiring Filipino chefs dubbed as ”the Ajinomoto 3rd Umami Culinary Challenge (3rd UCC): Battle for the Umami Bowl”, welcomed thousands of visitors at the SMX Convention Center last January 20, 2012. The annual event was a big success as it features over 300 student-competitors from universities, colleges and culinary schools in Metro Manila and nearby provinces. Giving credence to the affair are renowned culinary greats who graced the event as judges, speakers and cooking demonstrators.

Photo from the Umami Culinary Challenge

Food journalist, television host, culinary researcher, and Filipino food promoter, Ms. Nancy Reyes-Lumen, served as the UCC Competition Director for three (3) years. She said “The Umami Culinary Challenge (UCC) continues to be the “first base” for HRA and culinary school students in the field of cooking competitions. The UCC gives them the confidence and added skills they need to be globally competitive. Thus, the trend continues for UCC to combine the elements of fun and competitiveness with education and knowledge in umami. Win or lose, the participants walk away with a big smile and a healthy mind. All in all, the UCC was, is and will always be a big “malinamnam success!”

Photo from the Umami Culinary Challenge

The highlight of the whole day event is the Awarding Ceremony hosted by Ms. Suzi Entrata-Abrera. Ajinomoto Executives opened the program with a special recognition to Philippine Culinary Icon, Ms. Nora Daza, for her significant contributions in the Food Industry. Mr. Taro Fujie, President of AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION, gave his welcome remarks to congratulate all participants. Wild cheers and applause met Ms. Sarah Geronimo’s memorable performance as the Popstar delivers inspiration and motivation to all guests and participants.

Miriam College bagged the Umami Bowl Award for garnering the highest average score in major competition categories including the Umami Feature Writing Contest: Dr. Ikeda Award. The school brought home an Elba Kitchen Showcase on top of other prizes courtesy of AJINOMOTO PHILIPPINES CORPORATION. Mr. John Paul Ventura of Jose Rizal University was awarded the Umami Master title after delighting the judges with his umami masterpiece which he named “Pan-Seared Salmon w/ Veggie Rolls and Micro Green Salad in Spicy Coconut Sauce”.

Photo from the Umami Culinary Challenge

Other big winners are Lyceum of the Philippines Manila as it topped the Umami Bento and Mystery Umami Ingredient categories. Centro Escolar University got the first place in the Amazing AJI-GINISA Race and the Umami Buzz Jeopardy Challenge. Trinity University of Asia came out first in the Prep, Shake and TakTakTak competition, De La Salle Araneta University won the Plate-My-Dish competition and Appetite Magazine’s Capture Umami Challenge (Food Photography Contest) while College of the Holy Spirit received the special award “Media’s Choice for Best Plated Umami Bento”. The top three (3) culinary schools that competed for the 5-Ingredient-Umami-Healthy Dish competition are: Global City Innovative College, American Hospitality Academy and MOST Institute Culinary School.

All winners in the Ajinomoto 3rd Umami Culinary Challenge received cash prizes, medals and various cooking implements from Ajinomoto and valued event sponsors namely Elba, Whirlpool/Fujidenso, PR Gaz, Meat and Livestock Australia, Masflex and Appetite Magazine. Other event partners are GMA 7, Philippine Daily Inquirer and PR Moms Network.

Recently, my correspondent, who also my youngest brother Jefferson Montas went to attend the Umami Culinary Challenge in MOA.


Nowadays, we heard the bad effect of MSG in our body but why a lot of people still using this kind of ingredient in our food. It has been a sort of "culture" that a lot of Filipino people add MSG to make our food taste really delicious.

Is MSG safe? Yes. Research in Europe, the United States and Asia clearly shows that MSG used in prepared foods or as a condiment is safe for humans of all ages.


MSG has been safely used as a food ingredient since the early 1900's. It is one of the most thoroughly tested of all food ingredients, with hundreds of scientific studies confirming its safe and effective use. MSG's safely has been repeatedly affirmed by regulators and scientific agencies around the world.

MSG (monosodium glutamate) is an Umami seasoning which gives the Umami Taste in food. The word umami comes from the Japanese words umai (delicious) and mi (taste) and can be recognized in English as rich and savory, and in Filipino as "malinamnam" or "malasa".

Though its 3rd year that Umami hold this kind of challenge, this is the first time that I as a blogger cover this kind of event. It was really exciting, why? because it's all about food. I love cooking...very much...well as a mommy and a wife, i should know how to cook.

Every time there is an opportunity that I can cook, I really cook with love...ehem...because of the busy life...sometimes my mother cook for us...but I want to do it for my kids and for my husband..

As I read all the write ups, I learned more about the food that hopefully Ican serve it to my family...

Here are some of the pics during the Umami Challenge in SM Mall of Asia.




This event was judge by an impressive line up of judges from various fields related to food.  So they are the ones who are responsible for picking out the winners of the challenge.  Renowned culinary luminaries include: Sanday Daza (Inquirer columnist and TV show host), Chef Babes Austria (Executive Chef of Taal Vista Hotel and former Executive Chef of Malacanang Palace), Chef James Antolin (Vice PResident of Pastry Alliance of the Philippines), Chef Day Salonga and Chef Mon Acosta (Chef Consultants for opening new restuarants), Nina Daza-Puyat (Editor in Chief, Appetite Magazine), Chef Seiji Kamura (Executive Chef and owner of Mogu Japanese Restaurant), Vicky Alejandrino, (Head of Quality Assurance and Commissary for the Pancake House Group), chef Colin McKay (Executive Chef and owner of Sala Restaurant Group and Tetta Arroyo (Travel and Food Writer) among others.

The Ajinomoto 3rd Umami Culinary Challenge is a collaboration of organizations which strongly support the development o the Philippine culinary scene, among them are Glutamate Association of the Philippines (GAP), Elba, Whirlpool/Fujidenzo, Masflex, PR Gaz, Meat and Livestock Australia, and Anvil Publishing together with media partners GMA7, Appetite Magazine, Philippine Daily Inquirer, Inquirer Libre and PR Moms Network.